Dog suddenly scared of going onto the lawn

cassie55

What can I do?

I noticed that on Saturday night Chino peed on the patio instead of going on the lawn as he usually does. I thought it was unusual but didn't think much of it.

Yesterday he was at the dog minder as we were out all day at a family thing but last night, again, he peed on the patio.

Today I tried to get him to play with me on the grass and he wouldn't come. Just stood on the steps down to the grass. I tired enticing him with treats and even pieces of sausage (which is a massive treat for him) but he just looked at me pathetically from the steps.

He's not scared of all grass as his morning walks are mainly off lead running in a wooded and grassy area and there was no problem today or yesterday so it's just 'our' grass.

What can I do? It's not a major issue if he'd rather pee on the patio (although I would prefer the lawn) but it's such a shame as he's restricting himself to about 1/8th of the garden and up until the weekend loved sniffing around and scrabbling in the bushes.

Any ideas?

rising_from_the_ashes

mmmm has he always ventured onto the grass without problems before?

Couple of things I can think of .... there's been another animal (maybe a cat?) on the grass and it smells odd?

Have you had anything done to the grass (I know some people get stuff put on, esp this time of year, to treat moss etc) that he maybe doesn't like the smell of?

Has he had a fright in the garden?

cassie55

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

mmmm has he always ventured onto the grass without problems before?

Couple of things I can think of .... there's been another animal (maybe a cat?) on the grass and it smells odd?

Have you had anything done to the grass (I know some people get stuff put on, esp this time of year, to treat moss etc) that he maybe doesn't like the smell of?

Has he had a fright in the garden?

I'm not aware of anything that happened to scare him. He loved the garden until Saturday! We haven't touched the grass so nothing physical has changed.

I can't say for certain re other animals but we occasionally get cats or foxes (when he's not out there) but they haven't bothered him in the past.

It's a complete mystery.

littlesnuggy

My pug did exactly the same thing a few months ago and only this Saturday decided it was ok to go back on it. Someone suggested to me it was because the grass was long and he didnt like it tickling him! Saying that he goes on the grass at the park fine and it's not exactly well manicured there!

cassie55

littlesnuggy wrote: »

My pug did exactly the same thing a few months ago and only this Saturday decided it was ok to go back on it. Someone suggested to me it was because the grass was long and he didnt like it tickling him! Saying that he goes on the grass at the park fine and it's not exactly well manicured there!

That's interesting.

I managed to get him to put his front legs on the grass but he lifted one paw as if he didn't like the feel of it. My husband said maybe he doesn't like the feeling of wet grass but it didn't bother him this morning when he was running around the park like a loon.

Sagz_2

cassie55 wrote: »

What can I do?


Today I tried to get him to play with me on the grass and he wouldn't come. Just stood on the steps down to the grass. I tired enticing him with treats and even pieces of sausage (which is a massive treat for him) but he just looked at me pathetically from the steps.

I wonder if going up and down the steps is causing discomfort?

heretolearn_2

Sounds a bit mad but have you tried standing on it barefoot in case it suddenly feels strange for some reason?

I just keep thinking of the racecourse where there was a live current through the ground and the horses were dropping like flies, but the people were all fine because their shoe soles were insulating them.

Not that I want you to get electrocuted of course, but it could be something you can't feel wearing shoes.

picklepick

I'm wondering if he was maybe bitten by something last time he went on it and now he's associating the unpleasant experience with the lawn.

If it was a cat, I'd be suggesting you get them checked over for cystitis. Cat's start weeing on smooth surfaces away from their usual wee spots when they have bladder issues. Is it the same for dogs? The reasoning is thought to be that it felt like the litter was causing the pain for them when they wee'd. Just a thought.

zaksmum

Could there have been a rat in the garden?

cassie55

Thanks everyone.

Sagz - it's not the steps as he's been happily running up and down the stairs all day. We both work from home, one upstairs and one down and Chino likes to check on both of us periodically.

heretolearn - good point. I doubt it but I'll try it tomorrow just in case.

picklepick - he is happily peeing on grass on walks so I don't think it's that.

zaksmum - it's a possibility but I haven't seen one.

I really don't know what to do. We'll just keep tempting him with treats and maybe he'll gradually move onto the lawn. The grass is quite long and my husband will mow it at the weekend - maybe that will help although long grass isn't bothering him on walks/runs.

HelenYorkshire

Not to insult your garden-keeping, but it's the time of year nettles start coming through... maybe a well hidden shoot in some long grass???
But that's usually licking and scratching the feet before avoidance of the area...